COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTIONThis robust strong ale features pale malts and generous hop additions. After primary fermentation, several American rye whiskey barrels are filled and cellared to age. The remaining beer is then cellared in a stainless steel tank. After many months of aging, the barrels are then blended into the remaining batch aged in the stainless steel tank. Rare bird, released annually in winter and in limited quantity throughout the year.

2009 Old Birdbrain – First place Great Alaskan Beer & Barleywine Festival 2010
2010 Old Birdbrain - First place Great Alaskan Beer & Barleywine Festival 2011
2010 Old Birdbrain - Third place Great Alaskan Beer & Barleywine Festival 2012

Bottle: Vintage 2011. Deep amber with copper hues, clear and vibrant, moderate frothy head, sand colored, with spotty lacing. Big whiff of caramel and toffee, not too sweet, some biscuit and slight saltiness. Big malty rye start, warming, caramel and toffee follow. Slight touch of whiskey and also salted taffy. Not hot at all, but still has a green bitterness about it. Body and mouthfeel are moderate to full. Finishes with a husky maltiness, sweet and caramel like. Lingering rye whiskey flavors. Good, but could use a bit more body and caramel sweetness to counteract the alcohol and husky finish.

Thanks to 5000 for sending this bottle my way. Amber pour with a white head. The aroma is full of rye whiskey notes with some maple and vanilla. The flavor is similar at first, with some rye, oak, vanilla and light pine notes. I also get a bit of metal in the flavor. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation.

Bottle: The aroma consists of caramel, toffee, and light aged citrus hops. It pours a hazy brownish-orange and a small off-white head that quickly fades to a thin film outlined by a slightly thicker ring. The flavor starts with moderate caramel, toffee, and brown sugar. The finish has aged citrus hops, vanilla, and just a hint of oak. It’s medium-full bodied with mild carbonation.

Winter Brewers Festival 2010 – Seattle, WA
Brown in color, clear with a thin head. Loved the aroma. Very spicy with fruit like aromas. Malty and fruit flavors. Light with spice this was a tasty Barley wine. There was a pepper flavor and finish. The heat of the alcohol was warming and once this beer warmed up more aroma was coming out.

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